Thursday, May 5, 2011

Months ago, Alexx wrote a nice piece on No One Killed Jessica - he gave me permission to repost it here. I hope you enjoy it!

Alexx at the premiere!

I wholeheartedly recommend No One Killed Jessica, not just as an entertainer, but as a reminder.

The Jessica Lal murder case was coming to a close when I first came into awareness of India and its complexities, and it was shocking to me then, just as it is shocking to me now, how all over the world (not just in India) leaders manipulate the systems and the people they are entrusted to serve - ironically, the very sources of their power. We must always remember that in a democracy, when the government no longer represents and acts in the best interest of the people, it is the people's responsibility (not just their right) to change it...

Despite my very strong endorsement, there is one problem i have with the writing - and, unless my weakness in Hindi has handicapped me, it seems to be a glaring mistake. Half way through the second half, Meera's character argues - trying to motivate Jessica's sister to support the 'Justice For Jessica' rally: "this is not about you [Sabrina Lal]... this is about Jessica." The truth is, in reality, this really had very little to do with Jessica, and Meera's character should have known that - indeed the film begins with her covering the deaths of Indian service men and obviously, the war was not about them personally, but about the principle of national sovereignty. Jessica, while her death was tragic, became truly significant as the catalyst for a reassessment of the the judicial system, an expose of the abuse of power and influence, and the awaking of the media to its social responsibility as an instrument of positive change. In that vein, it is fitting that Rang De Basanti features in the second half - the instant realization of the close relationship between the films, inexorably linked by the backdrop of India Gate, has a synergistic effect in the punctuation of a singular message - and both are exceptionally powerful vehicles for that message because of their basis in actual events.

It is heartbreaking to see what needed to be done in order for justice to be served. Nevertheless, this film leaves you with a great deal of hope inspired by in the fact that what had to be done- WAS done... even if questions remain about the lasting effects of the case on the judicial system, the abuse of power, and the media - and the depths to which those effects were felt...

Overall, this film continues to play in my head even after leaving the theater - and that to me, is the mark of good film making.

2 comments:

Wow good piece. Agree, when the Jessica Lal murder case was finally closed, you could feel a sort of catharsis and relief in India that justice had been done which was much bigger than the feeling you would get if it was only about one person.